TV: Who's that girl?

Rebecca Ellis checks out a show that charts the careers, ambitions and sexual woes of four feisty female New Yorkers

In a televisual culture still pre-occupied by the male
experience or ultimately telling female stories from the confines
of a male writer/director/producer, it is no wonder Lena Dunham
(pictured) is fast becoming a poster-girl for all things Feminist.
Described as 'a young Woody Allen with ovaries', 26 year old
writer/director/star and regular Jill-of-all-trades, Dunham is
being hailed as the 'voice of a generation' with new HBO comedy
series Girls. Already heralded as 'the ballsiest show on TV', Girls
has caused quite the stir Stateside and, having recently landed on
British shores, is already attracting praise for its refreshing,
honest and daring portrayals of women.

The show charts the careers, ambitions and sexual woes of four
feisty female New Yorkers. Sound familiar? Sex and the City
certainly seems like an obvious comparable predecessor, but Girls
is far removed from the pleasures offered by the male penned SATC,
favouring uncomfortable realism over glossy escapism. Responding to
these comparisons, Dunham states her intention to offer women
'something less aspirational and more reflective of her reality'.
Dealing with themes such as abortion, unemployment, STD's, casual
sex and unsatisfying physical and emotional relationships,Girls
paints a raw and honest depiction of life as a disenfranchised,
depressed twenty-something. Dunham presents a cast of complex
female characters, educated and intelligent but, thankfully and
refreshingly, far from perfect.

The show's feel good factor comes from the celebration of female
friendship and all its complexities, in a media-scape where women
are seen to be in a constant battle of one-upmanship and only male
camaraderie is celebrated. Frank sexual conversations that would
make Samantha balk aid the shows comedy value, but just as high on
the topical agenda are debates about pop culture and society.

The shows explicit sex scenes have generated a whirlwind of
controversy, not least for their content, but for Dunham's frequent
willingness to expose her 'unconventional' naked, tattooed body on
film. Critics have praised and applauded Dunham's bravery in the
face of a seemingly relentless deluge of female perfection that
plagues the media and alienates its viewers. A self confessed
'everywoman', Dunham aimed to promote a more realistic sexual
experience from a female perspective saying 'I really wanted to see
scenes where girls weren't wearing negligees and sighing'.

Dunham's semi-autobiographical character and star of the show
Hannah epitomises the young women of Generation Y, defined by an
enthusiastic narcissism, easy confidence and strong sense of
entitlement. Hannah is a victim of the lesser known 'quarter-life
crisis', a post-education twenty-something quandary, where youthful
fantasies about the real world are exposed as myths, replaced by
the realisation that the world is not exactly your oyster. As an
unpaid intern and aspiring writer, Hannah proves that girls don't
just want to have fun - they have ambition and want successful
careers. Dunham's real life achievements certainly reflect this.
Producing a series of comedy videos on Youtube and later
self-financing her first feature film, Tiny Furniture, Dunham's
talent is a creative force to be reckoned with. With the second
series of Girls about to air in America and another feature film
under her belt, Dunham has recently landed a 3.5 million pound book
deal. Contradictory to her on-screen persona, Dunham's DIY success
story acts as an inspirational catalyst for the disenchanted
generation of young creatives both depicted in Girls and reflected
in its audience, sending out the message that you actually CAN do
it!